What are connections?

We believe in the importance of finding a community for your writing and publishing endeavors and encourage connections between Book Country members. Connections are fellow Book Country members who you want to stay in touch with and have a deeper engagement with on the site. Think of Book Country connections as LinkedIn colleagues or Facebook friends. These are people who will support your writing and publishing. Your connections are the only people who can communicate with you via private messages.

How do I connect with other members?

To add a new connection, send a Request to Connect. Find users to connect with by searching the community, navigating the genre map, reading books or inviting non-members to the site. The member must accept your connection request before you can start sending private messages.

What is the benefit of connecting with another member?

Friendship. Camaraderie. Finding another writer who is on the same journey as you. Developing a relationship with your first audience. Each person you connect with helps you create a community of people who support your writing and publishing endeavors and who want you to succeed.

Connecting with another member also gives you the opportunity to communicate with that user through private messaging.

How do I find other members to connect to?

There are lots of ways. You can use the search bar. Click on the search bar and then select Search People from the dropdown menu. If you like what someone says on the discussion forums, or you appreciate their book, you can click on that person’s name to go to the profile page. On the profile page, click Connect. Your current connections can also recommend members to you. You can also invite new members to Book Country and connect with them.

What can other members see when they search for me?

Book Country members will be able to see your display name, avatar, the date you joined Book Country, and any other information you choose to make public on your profile. For more on how to control public and private information, read this FAQ.

How do I accept connection requests from other members?

If another Book Country member requests to connect with you, you will receive an notification in your email. You can also see your connection requests when you log in to the Book Country site; click on the appropriate notification from the Connections tab to either Accept or Ignore your invitation to connect.

How do I access my list of pending connections to accept or ignore?

What if I don’t want to connect to someone who sent me a connection request?

If you don’t want to connect with a member who has sent you a connection request, simply select Ignore on the notification. If you continue to receive connection requests from a user you’ve ignored, you may also choose to “block” that user. This will prevent that member from being able to send you additional connection requests, but it will not prevent them from seeing your profile in search results.

Does a member know I have blocked them?

Blocked members will not receive notification that you have blocked them. However, if they try to connect with you again in the future, they will receive a message that says “This member is not accepting connection requests at this time.”

Can I disconnect with a member who I no longer want as a connection?

Yes. You can remove a connection at any time by disconnecting with that member. Disconnecting means that you will no longer be able to send or receive new private messages with that user. The member will not be notified that you have disconnected with them, however the member will be able to send you additional connection requests in the future.

To disconnect with a member, navigate to that member’s profile page and click the Disconnect button. You can also navigate to your list of connections, and click Disconnect next to each person you’d like to remove from your connections.

What happens if I choose to ‘disconnect and block’ a member?

If you choose to disconnect and block a member, that member will be removed as your connection. You will no longer be able to send or receive new private messages with that user. The user will not receive notification that you have disconnected with and blocked them. However, if they try to connect with you again in the future, they will receive a message that says “This member is not accepting connection requests at this time.”